Toned bodies: What intimidates Our gym goers

Heading to the gym to develop a Body Beautiful? Be aware that it might just frighten some of your colleagues. A new Canstar Blue survey into Kiwis’ gym habits has revealed that 33% of Kiwis are threatened by all of the in-shape bodies at the gym.

The people most daunted by the bodies at the gym are those under the age of 30 – and those in Otago are the most likely of the regions to feel the pressure from the fit bodies around them with 50% feeling intimidated at the gym, while just 21% of those in the Bay of Plenty feel the same.

Fit friends don’t stop us from training

However it doesn’t seem to be stopping people from getting on with their workout as three quarters of New Zealanders say that their gym membership has helped them achieve their goals, whether they be fitness, muscle gain or weight loss.

Those aged over 70 are most likely to have achieved their goals with the help of the gym as 100% have attained the results they were after from the gym.

This year, I’m getting fit

Close to 30% of Kiwis start an exercise programme as part of a New Year’s resolution but fail within weeks.

This could be because more than half say that they don’t go to the gym as much as they thought they would! According to the survey, women feel especially guilty when they miss a session at the gym (71%) compared to men at 64%.

The number one barrier for people getting to the gym is lack of time (59%) followed by cost (14%) and intimidation and lack of enjoyment from exercising in front of other people (13%).

This year, City Fitness has knocked Les Mills from their top spot, scoring five stars for overall satisfaction with the gym.

City Fitness was the only gym to receive 5-stars for value for money which is the leading driver of satisfaction for consumers (30%), says George.

They also were the only brand to receive five stars for special offers, this is most likely due to the frequency of their special offers and the availability and readiness of their staff to assist when needed.

Gyms by region

Auckland

Aucklanders are most likely to say that their gym membership has helped them achieve their goals (78%).

Waikato

Those in the Waikato are most likely (equal with Bay of Plenty) to have dated someone they met at the gym (14%).

Wellington

Wellingtonians are least likely to spend more money on designer gym clothes than they do on their gym membership (10%), least likely to say that the gym is an important part of their social life (34%) and least likely to pay more for a single sex gym (12%).

Canterbury

Cantabrians are least likely to have dated someone at the gym (9%), least likely to say that their gym membership has helped them achieve their goals (70%) and least likely to not go to the gym as much as they thought they would (49%).

Otago

Those in Otago are most likely to feel intimidated by all of the toned bodies at the gym (50%), most likely to often start an exercise programme as part of a new year’s resolution but fail within weeks (31%), most likely to feel guilty when they miss a session at the gym (84%), most likely to not go to the gym as much as they thought they would (66%), most likely to see the gym as an important part of their social life (53%) and most likely to pay more for a single sex gym (22%).

Bay of Plenty

Those in the Bay of Plenty are most likely (equal with Waikato) to have dated someone at the gym (14%), least likely to feel intimidated by all of the toned bodies at the gym (21%), least likely to often start an exercise programme as part of a new year’s resolution but fail within weeks (18%), least likely to feel guilty when they miss a gym session (54%) and most likely to spend more money on designer gym clothes than they do on their gym membership (25%).

The outcomes reported here are the results from a survey of Kiwis who regularly visit a commercial gym that is part of a chain (i.e. has gyms in multiple locations), where they pay a membership/attendance fee (i.e. not a free gym). In this case there were 560 people surveyed.

To our knowledge, all information in articles on the Canstar Blue website was correct at the time of publication. This information may have changed over time. Refer to the product fact sheet (or relevant similar documentation) before making any purchase decision. Canstar Blue's website terms and conditions apply.